Earlier this week, The Kitsap Sun newspaper ran a story regarding a new Lowe's store, slated to open in Silverdale at the corner of Myhre and Mickleberry roads toward the end of the year. 

Will this Lowe's store be a success?  There is already a large Home Depot store in Silverdale, while just a few miles south, a Lowe's store already exists in East Bremerton.  Home Depot just opened a new store in Poulsbo in 2006, and Lowe's just opened a store in Port Orchard on Sedgwick Road.  Plus, Home Depot already has plans for another store in Port Orchard. 

Sounds like a lot of major hardware stores for a county with a population the size of Kitsap's, doesn't it?  Especially when you consider the slowing economy and the poor housing market. 

Actually, the poor housing market may be a point in their favor.  As sales of homes decline, less sellers will be able to sell their homes.  More sellers will decide to stay put in their homes, and those sellers may proceed with remodelling plans so their homes are more comfortable for them. 

So far, all of the four major hardware stores mentioned have experienced some modicum of success, with the Home Depot in Silverdale and the new Lowe's in Port Orchard at the head of the pack.  The only real issue I see with the new Lowe's going into Silverdale is that it may lead to cannibalism.  The Lowe's in East Bremerton is the least-busy of all of the hardware retailers, and with the competition from Silverdale (awfully tempting to drive those few extra miles to a brand new store) Lowe's may decide to put more of its resources toward the Silverdale store. 

I hope that this will not lead to another store leaving Bremerton.  Growth in one area should not be bad for the revitalization of another area, but in our county, it sometimes seems to be the case, usually to the detriment of Bremerton.